I think the last line, my emphasis, places a shroud upon union power
today. Jobs are too scarce, and Americans are reaching a figure near
70% at or below poverty level--once government programmes and benefits
are removed.
*Natalia*
http://gawker.com/ten-year-chicago-hotel-strike-ends-in-unconditional-d-510835135
Max Rivlin-Nadler <http://maxrivlinnadler.kinja.com>
Saturday 12:37pm
<http://gawker.com/ten-year-chicago-hotel-strike-ends-in-unconditional-d-510835135>
A strike that lasted ten years and became a fixture of Chicago's
"Magnificent Mile," finally ended Wednesday
<http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/20432180-418/union-offers-to-end-10-year-strike-at-congress-plaza-hotel.html>
when workers at the Congress Plaza Hotel offered to return to work with
no conditions.
The strike, which the union called the longest hotel strike in history,
was started in 2003 after hotel owner Albert Nasser pulled out of an
agreement with the union and demanded wage cuts. This week, workers
finally decided they had lost this battle.
"It is the right time for the union and the strikers to move on," Local
1 President Henry Tamarin wrote in a statement, effectively ending the
strike. "There is no more to do there."
The picket line was a prominent sight for visitors to Chicago, who
witnessed workers continue their strike in front of the hotel in all
seasons, trying in vain to secure better wages. Nasser, the owner,
hasn't visited Chicago since the strike began, but that didn't stop
strikers from flying to Geneva to try to confront him. (snip)
*(snip)
**In its statement ending the strike, the union pointed out the standard
wage for room attendants in Chicago is now $16.40 an hour. Congress
hotel room attendants still make $8.83 an hour, which is what they did
when the strike began. *
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